The new German bi-annual Zeit-Magazin Mann has an extensive Christoph Waltz interview as cover story of its premiere issue. Naturally, Waltz’s role in last year’s SPECTRE was also a topic. A brief excerpt:

Financially, SPECTRE has been a huge success. It had a box office of $ 880 million, only one other James Bond film earned more.

And yet, Waltz isn’t satisfied – with his own performance, with the result.

‘I cannot claim that I’ve really nailed Blofeld. Overall it held water, was okay. But it wasn’t what I’ve been looking for. I was searching for more inspiration.’

He has been getting this vibe even before shooting started, but by then it was already too late.

‘An actor can only be really good when there are shared possibilities.’

He refuses to be any more specific about it, but it’s clear what he means by that: apparently the chemistry between him and director Sam Mendes didn’t play out the way he would have wished for.

How does one survive a PR spectacle such as James Bond?

First he says ‘I’ve survived worse’ and then he adds ‘There is a tendency to excessiveness. I understand you want to invite as many guests as possible to a premiere. But does it absolutely have to be the Royal Albert Hall? That doesn’t really help the whole cause. In the end it’s a film, and it should remain a film. The next premiere will probably be a national holiday; it almost was this time. I don’t see what’s so bad about the Odeon at Leicester Square for a premier cinema?’

At the end of SPECTRE his Blofeld is still alive – is a sequel with Waltz possible?

‘I don’t know about that, nobody knows. It wasn’t talked about, except in the press. Right now nobody even knows which studio will produce the next and if Daniel will return. All of that is filed under “carry on”‘

After the spectacular success that was SPECTRE – The Motion Picture and in preparation to the spectacular success that SPECTRE – The Auction will no doubt turn out to be (just as SPECTRE – The DVD, SPECTRE – The Blueray(™) and SPECTRE – The Streaming Experience, amongst others…) there is one more spec-tacular event for fans to crave and rave about and for me to report to you. It’s SPECTRE – The Tour! Never heard of it? Why, it’s a secret, dummy; people are not supposed to hear about it!

That’s why it came as a sort of surprise to us when, contrary to all intentions and every rule of clandestine operational procedure, we finally did hear about it, though. Albeit too late for Glasgow, that was yesterday. And too late for Manchester, that was this morning. Sorry, ladies and gentlemen, this time they really kept mum about it.

Well, now you know when and where, only the what is still a bit nebulous, much like the spectral nature of the entertainment this is supposed to somehow secretly promote. By way of osmosis or something equally sticky…

SPECTRE – The Tour will bring to you a display with an Aston Martin DB10; a real, genuine, made-for-the-screen-only toy car for millionaires. Supposedly there is also some other small fry, I would have to research on that. Only since it’s already a bit late I suggest you just stop reading this piffle and go into the great outdoors, preferably in Birmingham or Cardiff and just find out for yourself.

From time to time even a 00-agent has to go beyond the vulgarities of casinos and roulette tables to make some serious money in style, all for the good cause of Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), a number of other charities and the United Nations Mine Action Service. And what better way to do this than taking 24 absolutely unique lots – from EON as well as donations from Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes, Jesper Christensen, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli – to the halls of Christie’s to sell them off to the highest bidder?

Can’t think of any, really.

Of course there is a little, well, let’s call it hurdle, namely the price tag. Serious money here really does mean serious. On this occasion one of only two Aston Martin DB10 show cars will change hands, currently the only one to do so. It’s expected to earn the cause anything between 1 and 1.5 million sterling. So it will not surprise you to hear the live auction is an invitation-only affair, although bids by internet and telephone will be accepted. However, there also is to be an online-only auction from Tuesday 16 February to Tuesday 23 February where you can bid on 14 of the lots. For further information please visit Christie’s site here.

The life event will take place on 18 February at Christie’s London. If you think you belong into the relevant target audience – some of us do – and haven’t received yet your invitation you may want to contact your personal assistant at Christie’s and raise an eyebrow.

Oh, I almost forgot. There is of cause also a reason for this I should inform you about. The reason being that 18 February 2016 is a Thursday. What, you need more than that to spend a few million? How about that this event incidentally also is supposed to mark the release of SPECTRE in various trademarked formats, Blue-ray, DVD and whatnot. Now that should really open your cheque book.

Tremendous thanks to source “Surrie” for digging this up and letting us know.

As some Irishman – during an English adventure – once said, the wonders never cease. In fact 2016 starts with surprise after surprise; and by far not all of them are bad ones. After winning a Golden Globe a mere few days ago, to his own astonishment, Sam Smith supposedly may find himself once more caught off guard by today’s news. It seems that his main title song for SPECTRE, Writing’s On The Wall, has been found worthy of an Oscar nomination.

How is it possible Smith sings about things written on walls since the end of last September and nobody bothers to check out even once what it actually is that’s scribbled there? Turns out it might be a name…

Entirely unexpected and mostly out-of-the-blue Sam Smith’s main title song for SPECTRE, The Writing’s on the Wall, earned itself a Golden Globe yesterday evening. Smith himself said at the occasion he “genuinely didn’t think” he’d get this – and he certainly wasn’t alone in this belief. Be that as it may, CommanderBond.net crew and members hereby congratulate on this surprising turn of events. Here’s to you, Mr Smith!

SPECTRE has officially set a Guinness World Record for the Largest Film Stunt Explosion. Barbara Broccoli, Daniel Craig and Léa Seydoux collected the award in Beijing on behalf of special effects supervisor Chris Corbould. The explosion was filmed near Erfoud in Morocco, and used 8,418 litres of fuel and 33kg of explosives.

Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said: “It is absolutely tremendous that the Guinness World Records have recognised Chris Corbould’s incredible work in SPECTRE in which he created the largest explosion ever in film history.”